Page 92 of Better Hide

“I told you not to get me…” Jo argues, but Cole has already moved to the front door, leaving Jo and I standing awkwardly.

She bites her lip and turns back to the stove, where she’s stirring something.

I’m stuck again.

I hate this. Why the fuck am I frozen? I’m in my own fucking apartment. This shouldn’t be traumatic for me.

“You just gonna stand there like a creep?”

Instantly, my eyes snap to her. Jo continues to stir the pot. She throws a tiny glance over her shoulder, and from the slight twinkle in her eye, I see she’s being a smart-ass.

Immediately, I stalk up behind her and fist my hand in the back of her hair, yanking her head back to look at me. When her baby blues fly up to mine, I smirk. “Wanna keep up that attitude, slut?”

Jo narrows her eyes but doesn’t say anything. I laugh tightly and let her go. Smart girl. Fuck dinner, I’ll throw her on this table right now and punish her until she can’t remember her own damn name.

A timer goes off, and Jo opens the oven. Instantly, a wave of heat rolls over us, and I push Jo back.

She flashes me an annoyed look, but I pay her no mind. I grab the oven mitts off the counter and pull out the casserole dish. Looks like lasagna.

My mouth waters.

“I can do that myself,” Jo protests as I carry it to the table.

I know she can take it out herself, but I enjoy flustering her. I enjoy taking care of her and seeing her get mad about it.

There’s an odd scrambling noise at the door. We both glance up to see Cole peeking through while keeping the door cracked. “Jo! You ready for your present?”

Oh lord. What the fuck did he get her?

Jo glances at me briefly. I shrug. He didn’t tell me what it was.

“I guess?”

Cole opens the door, and something darts across the living room into the kitchen. I stiffen to protect her before I realize what it is.

Jo gasps.

Jesus Christ. I run a hand down my face. It’s a dog.

The golden retriever runs straight to me, jumping all over me, panting and wagging its tail. Then it shoots over to Jo, licking her hand, then sniffing around the room.

“It’s a…you got me a dog?” Jo looks up as Cole moves to her, snatching her in his arms and giving her a huge kiss. “Yep! Jayden said we had to wait till we had a place to live. Now we do. Do you like him?”

“It’s a him?” Jo struggles to get out of Cole’s arms so she can greet the dog again. It licks all over her face as she crouches down and she laughs.

A shock of jealousy runs through me. Of course he got her a dog. She loves it. Cole’s out here being perfect all the time. How in the fuck am I supposed to keep up? I can’t.

I shake my head and go to step away, but the dog breaks away from Jo and runs up to me, jumping up on my legs and smiling up at me. Then, before I can react, it lifts its leg and starts peeing on my shoe.

“Jesus!” I jump back.

The dog jumps around, acting like it didn’t just piss on me.

“He just marked you as his!” Cole starts belly laughing.

I glare at him. “This isn’t funny.”

Jo is trying not to laugh. I shoot her a glare, too. She grabs some paper towels, and I snatch them from her. I take off my shoes and clean up the mess. The dog licks my face while I’m down on the ground.

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